The only Aston Martin to finish Sunday at the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix is ​​the safety car.

• Also read: Verstappen goes on

Despite the fact that Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll used numerous penalties to gain some grid positions (after disastrous qualifying), both had to retire on laps 11 and 40.

“We had mechanical problems and the team decided to abandon our race to save the engine,” said the Quebec driver. It’s a shame we weren’t as quick as we’d hoped at Monza and you have to understand why it was so difficult. »

Failed goodbyes

As for his teammate Vettel, for whom it was his last presence in Italy, he was the first of the 20 participants to enter the pits only to never come out.

“We had a problem with the kinetic energy harvesting device [SREC] and we had no choice but to stop,” explained the future pensioner, who will no doubt have fond memories of his last Grand Prix at Monza, where he claimed the first of his 53 F1 victories.

Vettel and Stroll had qualified the day before in 17th and 18th respectively. Only the two color bearers of the Haas team (Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher) had done worse.

Really impresses…

He was voted Driver of the Day and it’s a fully deserved honor. In his very first Grand Prix, Nyck de Vries finished ninth, earning the rare two points for the Williams team.

Despite having to wait for his chance in F1 at the age of 27, the Dutchman has made a name for himself while there are still spots left for next season.

On Saturday morning, de Vries was called upon to replace Thai’s Alex Albon, who was the victim of appendicitis, and he quickly showed the flag by progressing to the afternoon’s second round (Q2) of qualifying.

… Latifi fumes

In just one F1 outing, de Vries has achieved what his team-mate Nicholas Latifi has failed to do in his last 26 starts: score at least one championship point.

Does the Canadian feel his F1 career is coming to an end? Stepping out of the car, however, he didn’t hide his dissatisfaction with a team that could simply entrust his full-time seat to de Vries next year.

Latifi also took advantage of the penalties to start from 10th place when the red lights went out and regretted not only the behavior of some of his competitors early on in the course but also the erratic handling of his single-seater. He finished the race in 15th position, one lap behind winner Max Verstappen.

“The start was difficult,” said Latifi. At the start, I got stuck between several cars and the drivers went around the first corner without a penalty.

“I could only try to defend myself,” Latifi said. The Williams is not a car with which you can hope to gain positions. »